For most “stuff,” quality and cost rarely connect 1:1 and balance out. Some things, like antique Colt pistols or Jaquar XKEs, cost far more their quality should merit. Other items, like this Gamba 580 shotgun, tip the other way. They offer more quality than you usually find at their price.
Renato Gamba is one of Italy’s oldest gunmakers. From what I’ve been able to find online, the 580 was one of their upper middle-grade SxS shotguns. It may have been built with some kind of Gamba-patented coil-spring locks, and the two screws in the bottom of the action (unusual for a sidelock) make me think it’s using some other Gamba-only designs. Regardless of what’s going inside the action, the outside of the gun is a clear indication of how well it’s made.
Filed up nicely and with a bit of flair, it has good metal-to-metal and nice details like set-screws. The stock’s well done, too. While the wood is a plain, it’s nicely shape and properly grained.
On top of all this, the scroll engraving is nicely done. Again, it’s not the greatest. But it is better than the scroll engraving on some Spanish guns costing 2x to 3x more.
Renato Gamba 580 12 Gauge Side-by-Side Sidelock Shotgun. Price: $2,799.99
Chambers: 2 3/4″
Metal Condition: Very Good. Some marks and edge wear.
Wood Condition: Very Good
Bore Condition: Very Good
Barrels: 28 Inch
Triggers: Double
Stock: Walnut
Stock Dimensions:
13 7/8 Inch LOP, 1 5/8 Inch DOC, 2 3/8 Inch
Butt Pad: Checkered
Weight: 7 Ibs 1 Oz
Chokes: Imp Cyl/ Mod
